Dinos Alive gift shop has been closed and now the sign for it and Grizzly moved to go around the left side of the building, along with new text only sign on the side of the building. Possible Winterfest function in the building but the rerouting may be permanent.
Dinosaurs Alive!
- Thread starter I305Evan
- Start date
I was under the impression that the dinosaurs were contracted from a company in China, but maybe that company just manufactured the dinos and Cedar Fair wholly owns them.
Walking through Dinosaurs Alive for the last time yesterday was honestly kind of sad. Even though the dinosaurs haven't held up so well over the years, it was a beautifully designed area. The lush forests, the winding paths, the attention to detail in the landscaping, the sounds of prehistoric insects and booming footsteps, the sense of total timelessness and immersion afforded by the meandering layout all created a lovely escape from hustle and bustle of the park's other offerings.
Dinosaurs Alive wasn't perfect--it amplified the park's thematic inconsistencies--but I will miss the unique, educational refuge that it provided. Its demise leaves a hole in Kings Dominion's lineup for a walkthrough to blow off steam, and learn a thing or two, or take a leisurely stroll.
As the title of Dinosaurs Alive's final, extinction-related informational sign reads at the exit of the attraction, it's "the end of an era."
Walking through Dinosaurs Alive for the last time yesterday was honestly kind of sad. Even though the dinosaurs haven't held up so well over the years, it was a beautifully designed area. The lush forests, the winding paths, the attention to detail in the landscaping, the sounds of prehistoric insects and booming footsteps, the sense of total timelessness and immersion afforded by the meandering layout all created a lovely escape from hustle and bustle of the park's other offerings.
Dinosaurs Alive wasn't perfect--it amplified the park's thematic inconsistencies--but I will miss the unique, educational refuge that it provided. Its demise leaves a hole in Kings Dominion's lineup for a walkthrough to blow off steam, and learn a thing or two, or take a leisurely stroll.
As the title of Dinosaurs Alive's final, extinction-related informational sign reads at the exit of the attraction, it's "the end of an era."
This was posted in r/dinosaurs by /u/panamericanantic who randomly came across it at night and didn't know about the park.
It's quite a fitting final pic of the Rex out front.
From the Reddit thread: "There's a theme park there - maybe Six Flags?" I shuddered at the thought of Kings Dominion being a Six Flags.
I know, can you imagine someone who isn't a theme park nerd confusing a Six Flags park with a Cedar Fair park at night?
The lame casuals are ruining the fun of us real fans who appreciate the art.
The lame casuals are ruining the fun of us real fans who appreciate the art.
Coming in 2019 a "World's First" Free Spin Coaster near Washington, DC called Green Lantern: Green Light of Green.
From the same company that brought you:
Gotham City Gauntlet - Escape from Arkham Asylum
Interesting tidbit about the fate of the attraction's dinosaurs from the park's June installment of their "Readers Mailbag" blog series: "Dinosaurs Alive figures were removed in the fall of 2018 and destroyed as per the contract with the manufacturer." Guess anyone's hopes of a dino-themed Haunt attraction are now extinct.
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Even the MANUFACTURER was done with them.
When I was there last weekend I realized the destruction of DA cut off like 8 Pokèstops. I hope they'll reuse that path for something!
Why didn't they ask me? They didn't have any of the best dino, but I would have adopted one.
They didn't have to be put down like that...
They didn't have to be put down like that...
It's even worse when you discover how they found out:
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9b9aoINXzk
This is a good spot for a new attraction, whether it be Haunt or a regular coaster. Not sure if the theories behind Miner's Revenge relating to the West Virginia mine accident were true; but I'd love to see them bring it back using the DA area. In my honest opinion, there was another level of suspense that could have been added to Miner's Revenge if there had been more space. If the Miner theme offended some; they could easily just incorporate aliens to it and call it a day.
As for a new coaster, there are numerous options when it comes to theme and ride design. Who says we have to get rid of the dinosaur theme? Universal's Island of Adventure is adding another Jurassic Park attraction to their park that features a launch. How cool is that. Knowing that Cedar Fair would go the cheaper route, who's to say that they couldn't just call RMC and building something like Lightning Rod. Given the fact that they already have an RMC that flips; they could just keep it original and keep it leveled, but with some wicked turns. I like the theme of some sort of raptor encounter and maybe towards the end is where the launch is to send the ride through a few more turns and back to the station safely.
As for a new coaster, there are numerous options when it comes to theme and ride design. Who says we have to get rid of the dinosaur theme? Universal's Island of Adventure is adding another Jurassic Park attraction to their park that features a launch. How cool is that. Knowing that Cedar Fair would go the cheaper route, who's to say that they couldn't just call RMC and building something like Lightning Rod. Given the fact that they already have an RMC that flips; they could just keep it original and keep it leveled, but with some wicked turns. I like the theme of some sort of raptor encounter and maybe towards the end is where the launch is to send the ride through a few more turns and back to the station safely.
Like was said in another thread, if they put a coaster here they really need to limit how many trees they take out. If they're going to take out a lot of trees, then I vote no way.
I do remember this very well. I understand in this day and time that the public is very sensitive to certain things. But you can say that about any kind of theme for a haunted maze. I'm pretty sure somewhere in America, someone went a little too crazy with a chainsaw and; you know. So could Slaughter House maze be considered offensive? Mine accidents were common back in the day because there were no safety code or regulations being enforced. That doesn't change the fact that the public like's exploring dark mine shafts. All they needed to do is change the type of monster that you encounter inside the maze.
If they were to use the DA area for some sort of Haunt attraction; it would probably be the biggest maze KD has done under Cedar Fair. I'd really like to see them do a much better version of Outbreak and keep retire the maze in FOF. Imagine an a much bigger Outbreak alien theme.
Outbreak: No Survivor
Hanover County survived the first virus. Now the outer worldly threat has returned to finish the job. Military personnel advise residents to evacuate the area as soon as possible. Attempting to fight these invaders is a fatal error. All attempts to quarantine the alien infection has failed and deadly force has been authorized on both civilian and outer worldly trespassers.
If they were to use the DA area for some sort of Haunt attraction; it would probably be the biggest maze KD has done under Cedar Fair. I'd really like to see them do a much better version of Outbreak and keep retire the maze in FOF. Imagine an a much bigger Outbreak alien theme.
Outbreak: No Survivor
Hanover County survived the first virus. Now the outer worldly threat has returned to finish the job. Military personnel advise residents to evacuate the area as soon as possible. Attempting to fight these invaders is a fatal error. All attempts to quarantine the alien infection has failed and deadly force has been authorized on both civilian and outer worldly trespassers.
Alright back to Dinosaurs Alive!
So, that T-Rex animatronic at the end was pretty cool.
So, that T-Rex animatronic at the end was pretty cool.
Funny, in that the hooded parker being worn by one of the dinosaurs, looks like the Belsnickels costume!